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You can find a variety of job shadow hosts by joining ����̽̽ Connect, our exclusive online community of ����̽̽ alums, students, staff and faculty. If you are new to ����̽̽ Connect, you can create an account by signing in with LinkedIn, Google, Facebook, or registering your email.  Once logged in, find hosts by:

• visiting the Directory and filtering on Mentoring - click Offering Mentoring, and select “Host a student to shadow me at work”
• refine your search by location, industry, or other interests
• identify potential hosts (best to find several options even if you only one to shadow once).  For potential host:
  • visit their profile and click on “Request mentoring” and then select “Host a student to shadow me at work”
  • craft your own message inquiring about setting up a job shadow opportunity.
• Plan ahead - we recommend contacting a potential host at least 2-weeks prior to shadowing. Keep in mind that you are responsible for all transportation and lodging that may be required for the shadowing day.

Dear Ms. Smith,

My name is Amanda Chase and I am a current ����̽̽ student. I saw on your ����̽̽ Connect profile that you are open to hosting a job shadower, and I am reaching out to see if I might be able to spend a day with you at your position this winter. I am a sophomore majoring in political science, and am very interested in learning more about state and local government.

Specifically, I would be available to shadow between December 21st -23rd, or January 4th -11th. If you are open to hosting me as a job shadower, could we arrange a time to talk on the phone about what that might look like?

Thank you,

Amanda Chase

Pro Tips:

• You might also include some of your reasons for choosing this site, and what you hope to learn.
• They may ask to see your resume - for resume support and resources, check out our guide to resumes.

Don't forget to ask: 

• What time should you show up? What will the schedule be like?
• How should you get there? What should you know about public transit or parking?
  (You are responsible for getting to the shadowing site, so be sure to choose a site you can get to on the agreed upon date.)
• What should you bring?
  (e.g. ID, lunch, notebook, money for parking.)
• What should you wear?
  ​Attire will depend on the particular site. For example, the following options may be a completely appropriate way to dress for a particular job shadowing site:
  • Shadowing at a construction site could necessitate clothing that can protect you from harm.
  • A more traditional, corporate environment may require a full suit.
  • A casual workplace might see most of their employees wearing chinos and polo shirts.

To make the most of your shadowing experience, prepare some questions for your host. This list of questions is not comprehensive, but it is a good place to start. Of course, add your own questions.

• What is your exact job title, and how long have you been in your position?
• What type of education and training would you recommend for someone just starting out in this career?
• What skills are necessary for succeeding in this career?
• How has this career field changed since you started?
• What makes you excited about your job?
• What other careers or industries could you work in with your education and experience?
• How has technology changed this career?
• How did you choose this employer to work for?
• What do you like most about working for this employer?
• Can you describe a typical day at your job?
• What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your job?
• How is your work-life balance?
• What's the most valuable lesson you've learned in this job?
• What advice do you have for someone considering this career?
• What types of jobs or internships should I seek as I continue my education?
• What's the biggest stumbling block you see with younger jobseekers?
• What do employers in this field look for in younger jobseekers?
• Do you expect this field to change much in the next five years?
• What is the employment outlook for this career field?
• Is there anything else that I have not seen today, or that we have not talked about, that you think is important for me to know as I continue my quest for the ideal career?

Shadowing hosts are taking time out of their schedules to do this with you, so be gracious. And you'll want to make a good impression, so remember to always...

• Use professional communication and respond to messages promptly (within 24 hours).
• Follow through on your commitments.
• Communicate any issues to your shadowing host, and inform them immediately if you need to reschedule or cannot make it to your job shadowing day.
• Show up - on time - at the agreed upon time and place.

Always send a thank you note after shadowing. 

Emails are generally acceptable, but nothing beats the class of sending an old-school thank you card in the mail!

Sample Thank You note:

Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. [Host’s Name],

I want to extend my heartfelt thank you for providing me the opportunity to job shadow you for the day. It gave me a clearer understanding of what the [name of the trade] job demands.  The information has helped me to clarify my direction with greater confidence. It will greatly help me in choosing my career.

Thank you once again for giving me time from your busy schedule and helping me take a closer look at the job. It was an invaluable experience for me.

Yours Sincerely,

[Your name]

If you are interested in hosting a student for a job shadowing day, please join , our exclusive online community of ����̽̽ alums, students, staff and faculty. If you are new to ����̽̽ Connect, you can create an account by signing in with LinkedIn, Google, Facebook, or registering your email.

To indicate your willingness to host a student shadower, select Mentoring then Settings, and select “Host a student to shadow me at work”. We encourage you to consider how many students you have the capacity to host and inform students if you have reached your capacity. You can adjust your mentee limit as you wish in Mentoring Settings.

On the agreed upon shadowing day, the student will arrange their own transportation and meet you at your workplace.

As a shadowing host, we ask that you allow the student shadower to observe your typical workplace activities, and provide them a chance to ask questions about your industry and position.

After the shadowing experience, both students and hosts will complete an evaluation of the shadowing experience. Please also remember that students will be in different stages of the career development processes, and that for some, this will be their first professional experience in the workplace. We do not expect students to be experts in your industry – our main goal is to have them learn from this experience. We appreciate your patience and guidance as they navigate this process.

A full day will likely feel longer than you think! Plan varied activities and ask colleagues to help with the hosting responsibilities.

Possible activities for the day include:

• Taking a tour of your organization/department
• Sitting in on a meeting
• Talking about/demoing a current project
• Suggesting resources (websites, professional organizations) that may help them further explore your field
• Visiting with clients/constituents
• Sharing your own journey and how you ended up in this position
• Advising the student on how to make the most of their time at ����̽̽
• Offering to review the student's resume
• Allowing the student to listen in on a phone/conference call
• Taking the student to lunch, possibly with other colleagues

Consider Offering the Student Shadower a Hands-On Experience

Past shadowing hosts have had students:

• Write a blog post about their shadowing day for the company website
• Provide a student or Generation Z perspective in a marketing meeting
• Help set up or break down an event
• Post on the company’s social media sites

Help Set the Student Shadower Up for Success

After a shadowing experience, many students reflect upon how nervous they were on the shadowing day, and how they wished they had asked more questions. The shadowing day may be your student’s first experience in a professional workplace, and they are likely still building their professional confidence. Many students are nervous about getting in your way, and want to make sure to put on a good impression. Though ����̽̽ coaches student shadowers about professionalism and preparation, your students will also benefit from hearing advice from you as a shadowing host.

You can help set them up for success by doing the following:

• Talk with your student about what the shadowing day will look like. Who will the student meet? Where will they go? Is there any important context that they should know about meetings or activities? Is there background information that the student can read before the shadowing day?
• Ask the student if there is anything that they are nervous or confused about, and address it before they show up for the shadowing day.
• Let the student know that it’s ok to ask questions during their visit. If there is a best time and place to ask (e.g. after a meeting is finished), let the student know when and where that will be.
• Identify with the student’s journey. Share your early career experiences, and what the transition from college to work was like for you. Give them some advice on how to be successful as a young professional.
• Ask the student about their goals for the day. Are they just beginning to explore career options? Or are they committed to this field of work and trying to make contacts for job and internship opportunities? Is there anything in particular that they might like to see?
• Ask about the student’s expectations for the shadowing day, and make your own expectations clear. Discuss:
  • Dress code
  • Parking
  • Plans for lunch (should they bring food? Be prepared to buy it?)
  • Nuances about company culture or etiquette
  • What you expect them to know about your organization before arriving, and how they can learn it.

“[My shadowing host] explained why she fell in love with the industry and how she ended up at ����̽̽. After telling me a little bit about the variety of factors that influence life policies, we sat down with her team to have lunch and discuss strategies for the new year. I am so glad I took this opportunity to not only learn about a potential career field, but also get advice from a successful ����̽̽ alumni.”

“My job shadowing experience with the Vermont Department of Labor was really inspiring. I had a chance to know how people work behind the data sheet, which we use a lot in our classes, and daily discussions. I feel grateful to the director of the department for sharing his experience and inviting me to join their brainstorming meeting in the morning. I spent time with different people working at the department to get to know their specific tasks, and how do they handle the problems. All in all, it was a great experience for me!”

“My time shadowing deepened my appreciation for good rapport between provider and patient. [My shadowing host] had back-to-back appointments that lasted 45 to 60 minutes, and she maintained upbeat conversation throughout the day, remembering unique details about each patient. I had never before seriously considered PT, but I soon realized the direct relationship between rehabilitation and the nervous system. This sparked an interest that led me to organize a shadow of occupational therapy at the ����̽̽ Medical Center’s Fanny Allen campus.”

“It was a delight to get to know [my student shadower]. I hope she stays in touch so I can support her as she moves along. I am proud to be an alum with students like her at my alma mater!”

“It was a delight to get to know [my student shadower]. I hope she stays in touch so I can support her as she moves along. I am proud to be an alum with students like her at my alma mater!”

“[My student shadower] was extremely professional, a delight to be with and I enjoyed the day thoroughly. I hope she also had a great time. I have some great pictures of her here at our Main Interior Building. Although the government was shut down, she got to meet some high levels here in the Department. A really great day!”

“The experience for [my student shadower] was so good... she applied for a Summer Internship here at Global Foundries. The manager deciding on the hiring stopped by my office to ask about her. I think GF made her an offer. Not sure if she accepted. But clearly a side benefit of the job shadowing program.... you might get hired!”